McDowell reflects on "dream season"

Northern Irishman could have kicked back and relaxed, but he's too much of a winner for that...

Wed, 24 Nov 2010

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 12 months or so, Graeme McDowell claimed his first Major - the US Open - in June, as well as the Wales Open, the Andalucia Masters and the winning point for Europe at Celtic Manor.

Off the course, he was invited onto the Jay Leno Show as well as a cameo appearance in his favourite comedy, Entourage. And, the pièce de résistance, he got to chat with Golfmagic too.

On the eve of the Tour-ending Dubai World Championship in the UAE, the Ulsterman kicked back, sipped on his drink, maybe lit a well-earned cigar, and reflected on what he already describes as his “dream season”.

“If you had shown me the script in January for this year I wouldn’t have believed it,” said the Ulsterman. “It is certainly beyond my wildest expectations.

“I certainly wouldn’t have expected this season to go the way it has. To have two huge highlights like Pebble Beach and the Ryder Cup, it’s been amazing.”

But the Northern Irishman has just one more target.

“You don’t get many chances to win an order of merit, or Race to Dubai as it is nowadays,” he said.

“I guess after the Ryder Cup I could have probably put my feet up and taken 80 [in every round] for the rest of the year and still looked back and said ‘dream season’.

“I didn’t want to do that because I wanted to try and finish strong.”

Money-list titles are generally considered as second only to the four Major championships and, just £250,000 shy of current leader Martin Kaymer, McDowell has every reason to be confident.

“Monty with his eight, that’s unbelievably impressive. Martin has had an amazing season but being within touching distance this week is fun.”

“I started off this five-week run with Martin nearly a million euros ahead of me and I wasn’t quite sure I would be able to catch him.

“I wanted to get here with an opportunity to win the Race to Dubai and I’ve given myself that chance now. I am excited about it and trying to put a bit of polish on a good season.

“It’s been a busy five weeks with a lot of travelling so I’ve been trying to conserve energy and not spend too much time on the practice range to make sure I come here this week with the energy levels pretty good.

“I’ve been feeling great and feeling like there is plenty left in the tank. I’m looking forward to it and in the final group with Martin tomorrow, the adrenaline should be pumping from the word go.

“I’m probably feeling as good about my game right now as I have at any point during the season.”

Paul Azinger claimed McDowell “has turned a decent living into a career” and a win in Dubai will be the icing on the cake.